Wednesday 7 October is the second World Day for Decent Work and the TUC has got together with Philosophy Football to organise a great night out at TUC headquarters – it’s called Rhyme, Rhythm & Reason. Priority booking is now open (book early, this event will sell out well in advance).

Philosophy Football events are a pioneering mix of ideas and entertainment. They have brought together a spell-binding line-up. Headlining will be the legendary Linton Kwesi Johnson, making a rare London appearance. Linton will be showcasing his work of dissenting poetry, with fellow dub poet, the incomparable Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze. And we are proud to include the best of a new generation of young performers, one of the finest, performance poet and author Laura Dockrill. Opening the night will be Congolese band, The Zong Zing All Stars.

Combining the rhyme and the rhythm with some reason will be TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O’ Grady, Paul Mason author of Meltdown: The End of the Age of Greed. Detailing the changing contours of class will be Lynsey Hanley, journalist and author of the wonderful Estates: An Intimate History while geographer Doreen Massey maps the impact of gobalisation on traditional trade union demands. There will also be a special presentation on life underground – the work of the cleaners who keep the tube safe, and were being treated appallingly until RMT took up their case. It’s a mix designed to inspire, inform and entertain.

There are big savings to book as a table of 10 so why not make a party of it? There’s the option to pre-book a buffet supper too. TUC Congress Centre is at 23-28 Great Russell Street, London WC1. Book on the web or call 0208 802 3499.

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Posted on September 4th, 2009 by Owen Tudor filed under: Union news

The political debate about health-care in the US, has sparked  a well deserved outpouring of support for the NHS here in the UK. But even as everyone from the PM to the genius behind Father Ted that is Graham Linehan are proclaiming their love for the NHS,  those lovely people at McKinsey’s are dreaming up plans to slash staff numbers. Calling for a 10% reduction in NHS staff, McKinsey’s leaked report to the DoH can be better characterised as hatchet job than keyhole surgery.

I’m sure the McKinsey team are all competent, professional people, but I wonder how many of them have actually worked in a busy hospital or GP’s surgery?  How many of them actually use the NHS? One of the perks of working for Mckinsey & Co is private health-care…

NHS unions have been quick to point out that while they support efforts to ‘constantly look for new ways to be efficient and to deliver better patient care,‘ large-scale cuts in staff would be counter-productive, and short-sighted (see here as well). Happily, NHS minister Mike O’Brien  agrees, making the point that, ‘In core frontline services, like maternity, nursing and primary care, we need more staff rather than fewer.‘

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Posted on September 4th, 2009 by Paul Nowak filed under: Union news

If you’re due to be at this years Congress which begins in Liverpool on September 14th, attending the following fringe meetings will be time well spent.

Reaching out: organising young workers

Room 4A, BT Convention Centre

Monday 14th September, 5.15pm

Chair: Frances O’Grady, TUC

Speakers: Billy Hayes, CWU, Mark Serwotka, PCS, Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ, Chris Keates, NASUWT, John Walsh, Unite / TUC Young Members Forum

Outline: The case for organising and supporting young workers is increasingly urgent as youth unemployment reaches alarming levels and young people at work face increasing job insecurity, vulnerability and low pay. Yet trade union membership among young people remains low. This event looks at the ways trade unions are taking on the challenge of organising and empowering young members and how the TUC and unions can work together to promote the benefits of trade union membership to young people both in the workplace and wider community.

This event will also showcase the winning entries to the TUC’s 60 Second Ads Challenge, the TUC competition inviting budding film makers to submit 60 second films promoting the benefits of trade unions.

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Posted on September 1st, 2009 by Carl Roper filed under: Union organising